MercuryTheater-ChristmasSchooner

Book by JOHN REEGER

Music and Lyrics by JULIE SHANNON

Director L. WALTER STEARNS

Musical Director EUGENE DIZON

Choreographer BRENDA DIDIER

Scenic Design JACQUELINE AND RICHARD PENROD U.S.A.

Lighting Design JASON EPPERSON

Costume Design CAROL J. BLANCHARD U.S.A.

Sound Design MIKE ROSS

Production Stage Manager RITA VREELAND, A.E.A.

Assistant Stage Manager ANDREW GLASENHARDT, A.E.A.

The Christmas Schooner is presented through special arrangement with, and all licensed materials are available through, Music Theatre International, 451 W. 24th Street, New York, NY 10019, www.MTIShows.com

The Christmas Schooner

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CAST Karl Stossel, at age 9................................................................................................ BENJAMIN PARKHILL Gustav Stossel, Karl’s grandfather...........................................................JAMES WILSON SHERMAN* Alma Stossel, Karl’s mother........................................................................................CORY GOODRICH* Peter Stossel, Karl’s father............................................................................................ KARL HAMILTON* Rudy.................................................................................................................................. THOMAS M. SHEA* Oskar..................................................................................................................................RONALD KEATON* Steve.......................................................................................................................................TRAVIS TAYLOR* Hans/Officer Wells.........................................................................................................RYAN WESTWOOD Young Man/Karl Stossel, at age 15..................................................................................MARK KOSTEN Louie............................................................................................................................................ERIC PARKER* Enid.................................................................................................................................KELLY ANNE CLARK* Martha/Kate.................................................................................................................. ELIZABETH HALEY* Olive/Rose............................................................................................................................. LEAH MORROW Young Girl/Mary Claire Daugherty, age 10..........................................................ISABELLE ROBERTS Lilli Mae......................................................................................................................................SAGE HARPER Jan..................................................................................................................................................DANIEL PASS MUSICIANS Piano/Conductor.................................................................................................................EUGENE DIZON Cello.................................................................................................................................LAUREL HUMISTON Harp................................................................................................................................. JENNIFER RUGGIERI Keyboard..................................................................................................................................JEFFREY LEVIN Percussion...................................................................................MIKE PRYZGODA, LINDSAY WILLIAMS Violin................................................................................................................................MELISSA ARBETTER Woodwinds..................................................................................................................ANTHONY PARSONS

UNDERSTUDIES Understudies will not perform unless an announcement is made at time of performance.

Karl Stossel, age 9.....................................................................................................................DANIEL PASS Gustav Stossel.................................................................................................................RONALD KEATON* Alma Stossel................................................................................................................KELLY ANNE CLARK* Peter Stossel..............................................................................................................................ERIC PARKER* Steve, Oskar.....................................................................................................................RYAN WESTWOOD Hans.............................................................................................................................................ERIC PARKER* Martha...........................................................................................................................KELLY ANNE CLARK* Enid........................................................................................................................................ LEAH MORROW* Mary Clare Daugherty..........................................................................................................SAGE HARPER

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P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F Director......................................................................................................................... L. WALTER STEARNS Musical Director..................................................................................................................EUGENE DIZON Choreographer................................................................................................................... BRENDA DIDIER Scenic Design..................................................................RICHARD AND JACQUELINE PENROD, U.S.A. Lighting Design.............................................................................................................. JASON EPPERSON Costume Design..........................................................................................CAROL J. BLANCHARD, U.S.A. Stage Manager......................................................................................................... RITA VREELAND, A.E.A. Assistant Stage Manager................................................................... ANDREW GLASENHARDT, A.E.A. Lead Technician/Sound Engineer........................................................................... BRADLEY JACKSON Scenic Construction........................................................................................CROSSTOWN SCENIC LLC Dance Captain.............................................................................................................ELIZABETH HALEY* Assistant to the Costume Designer..........................................................................ARIZONA POWERS Wardrobe........................................................................................................................... RACHEL BOYLAN Dialect Coach.................................................................................................................. RACHEL RIZZUTO Press Representative...................................................................NOREEN HERON & ASSOCIATES, INC.

NOREEN HERON ZAUTCKE, KATHARINE HUGHES,

LIANNE WIKER, BRENNA O’LEARY, HOLLY GUSTAVSON Promotional Video Producer...........................................................JASON GROH, LEXORIA STUDIOS Graphic Designer........................................................................................................... JASON EPPERSON Associate Choreographer.............................................................................................. ANDREW WATERS M E R C U R Y T H E AT E R C H I C AG O Executive Director.........................................................................................................L. WALTER STEARNS General Manager........................................................................................................... JASON EPPERSON Business Manager..............................................................................................................EUGENE DIZON Lead Technician............................................................................................................. BRADLEY JACKSON Box Office Manager............................................................................................................ MIGUEL PEREZ House Manager...................................................................................................................MATT CONLON Audience Service Associates........................KATIE NIXON, MATTHEW PAYNE, SUSAN ROBINSON SPECIAL THANKS Bailiwick Chicago, Skylight Opera Milwaukee, SUNY Fredonia, Joseph Griffin, Michael Pacas.

Mercury Theater Chicago is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Chicago Area Producers Organization, and the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce. *Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org The Christmas Schooner

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MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT ONE WE ALL HAVE SONGS............................................................................................................The Company THAT’S AMERICA..............................................................................................................Alma, Gustav, Karl THE MUMMERS ARE HERE............................................................................... Steve, Oskar, Rudy, Peter THE BLESSINGS OF THE BRANCH......................................................................................The Company THE LETTER........................................................................................... Peter, Martha and the Company THE LETTER (REPRISE)...........................................................................................................The Company ANOTHER SEASON ON THE WATER..................................................................................The Company WHEN I LOOK AT YOU............................................................................................................................ Peter WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE WATER?........................................................................................The Company THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER.....Peter, Gustav, Steve, Oskar, Rudy and the People of Chicago

ACT TWO ENTR’ ACTE: SONG OF THE HUNGRY PEASANTS..........................................................The Company WINTERFEST POLKA.............................................................Oskar, Rudy and the People of Chicago LOVING SONS...........................................................................................................................Alma and Karl THE STRUDEL WALTZ.......................................................................................................... Peter and Alma ANOTHER SEASON ON THE WATER (REPRISE)..............................................................The Company HARDWATER SAILORS....... Karl at 15, Steve, Oskar, Rudy, Hans and the People of Manistique QUESTIONS................................................................................................................................................ Alma WHEN I LOOK AT YOU (REPRISE)..................................................................................Gustav and Alma WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE WATER? (REPRISE).................................................. Karl at 15, and the crew THE BLESSINGS OF THE BRANCH (REPRISE)...................................................Alma and Mary Claire FINALE........................................................................................................................................The Company

PLEASE NOTE: THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER IS PERFORMED WITH ONE TEN-MINUTE INTERMISSION

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The Mercury Theater

A B O U T M E R C U R Y T H E AT E R C H I C AG O

Mercury Theater Chicago 3745 N. Southport Ave Chicago IL 60613 773-325-1700 www.mercurytheaterchicago.com Mercury Theater Chicago is an intimate, jewel box of a theater seating 290 people in a continental style. It is available for commercial productions as well as local, non-profit producers. An anchor of the Southport Corridor community, Mercury Theater Chicago beats at the heart of a sophisticated neighborhood of shopping, dining and entertainment.

The building that houses the Mercury opened in 1912 as a silent film nickelodeon called the Blaine Theater, named after former Senator and Secretary of State James G. Blaine. Around 1928 the popularity of “talkies” was on the rise, and the Blaine had become obsolete, so the much larger movie palace, the New Blaine Theater was built, which was shortly after named the Music Box Theater, still in operation today a few doors down from the Mercury.

For most of the 20th century the original Blaine building served many retail purposes, and for a while, operated as a carpet cleaning facility, using the rake of the seating area to lay rugs out and drain the water off. In 1994, veteran Chicago theater producer Michael Cullen organized the purchase and renovation of the building, re-dubbing it the Mercury Theater after Orson Welles’ famous troupe of War of the Worlds fame. The Mercury opened in 1996 with Pope Joan, and from 1996-2009 showcased many critically acclaimed productions, including The Irish and How They Got That Way, Over the Tavern, and His Way, a tribute to Frank Sinatra.

Today, Mercury Theater Chicago is led by Executive Director L. Walter Stearns, a veteran theater director, and former Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago. It re-opened on May 1, 2011 with the critically acclaimed production of A Twist of Water.

This production, by Route 66 Theater Company, reaffirms the Mercury Theater as a place where Chicago stories and local artists can find a home.

Though little of the Blaine still exists, you can see hints of what used to be inside, including decorative plaster pilaster busts flanking the house. The intimate theater now boasts warm exposed brick walls and 292 seats that were recovered and refurbished from a 1933 era Boston movie house.

The Christmas Schooner

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B I O G R PA H I E S

JOHN REEGER (Book) and JULIE SHANNON (Music & Lyrics) were delighted that the Mercury Theater’s 2011 production The Christmas Schooner was nominated for Outstanding Production - Musical (Midsize) by the Joseph Jefferson committee. The Christmas Schooner has enjoyed well over 125 productions around the United States, including a twelve-year holiday run at Bailiwick Theatre. It received its European premiere at Theatreworx in Bristol, England.

Schooner, licensed world-wide by Music Theatre International, received the After Dark award for Outstanding New Work.

The Songs from the Christmas Schooner CD is available at the Mercury box office and LMAMusic@aol.com. John and Julie have collaborated on three other musicals. Stones premiered at the St. Louis Black Rep and was subsequently produced by Arizona’s Phoenix Theatre and at Bailiwick, where it starred Tony nominee Felicia Fields (The Color Purple). Stones garnered numerous nominations and awards, including from The Black Theatre Alliance. John and Julie’s most recently produced musical, Let the Eagle Fly—The Story of Cesar Chavez, was performed in a sold out concert at the Goodman Theatre as part of Goodman’s 2004 Latino Theatre Festival. The concert was sponsored by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. The show then received its first fully staged production at the University of Texas 6

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Pan American, followed by productions at California Stage in Sacramento, Teatro Máscara Mágica and Southwestern College in Chula Vista, by the Chavez family in San Jose, and Western Stage in Salinas, CA. Their most recent show is The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes. In Julie’s last months of life in 2012, she was thrilled that the Mercury Theater Chicago family plans to keep her songs alive through annual productions of Schooner.

KELLY ANNE CLARK* (Enid, Understudy Alma, Understudy Martha) delighted to set sail on the Molly Doone once again. She was most recently seen in The Pirates of Penzance at the Marriott Theatre where she also played Norma Cassidy in Victor/Victoria (Jeff Award), Rosemary in How to Succeed… as well Mabel in their 2000 production of Pirates. She was also seen as Woman #1 in Marriott’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change in addition to the Royal George, Detroit and off-Broadway productions.

Earlier this year she had the pleasure of playing Nina in The Cocktail Hour for Illinois Theatre Center’s final season. Other credits include Jeanette in The House of Martin Guerre at the Goodman, Mary Turner in Of Thee I Sing and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened…(Jeff nomination) at Drury Lane

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Oakbrook, and Mrs. Henderson in Annie Get Your Gun with Patti LuPone for Ravinia Festival Theatre, as well as productions at Light Opera Works, Northlight, Theatre At The Center, First Folio and Oak Park Festival Theatre.

CORY GOODRICH* (Alma Stossel) returns for her second voyage on the Mercury’s Schooner. She was most recently seen in A Little Night Music at Writers’ Theatre. A four-time Joseph Jefferson award nominee, she is a Jeff award winning actress for her portrayal of Mother in Drury Lane Oakbrook’s acclaimed Ragtime, and has also performed at Chicago Shakespeare, Marriott Theater, Theatre at the Center, Apple Tree, Candlelight and as a soloist at Ravinia. Favorite roles include Guenevere/Camelot, Irene Malloy/Hello, Dolly!, Vi/Footloose, Mrs. Smith/Meet Me in St Louis, Eliza/My Fair Lady and Eva/Evita. In addition to theatre, Cory is also a singer/ songwriter and she is very proud to have co-produced “Season of Carols”, a holiday CD to benefit Season of Concern with Schooner’s musical director Eugene Dizon. (www.seasonofcarols.com). She dedicates this performance to the incredible composer of The Christmas Schooner, Julie Shannon, whose spirit will live on through her beautiful, heartfelt music.

ELIZABETH HALEY* (Martha/Kate) feels so blessed to be a part of The Christmas Schooner for the second year at the Mercury! She was also part of the 2005 cast at Bailiwick Repertory.

Favorite theatre credits include Lizzie in 110 in the Shade with Light Opera Works, Sr. Mary Amnesia in Nunsense and Arlene in Baby with Metropolis PAC, and Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music and Vivien Della Hoya in Promises, Promises with Porchlight. She has also worked with Paramount Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Theatre at the Center, Chamber Opera Chicago, Circle

Theatre, Theater Building Chicago, and Chicago Symphony Chorus, and is a cantor at St Alphonsus. A native of OK, she is a graduate of The University of Tulsa. She sends heartfelt thanks to Wally and Eugene and love to her new husband Karl! This one is for Julie.

KARL HAMILTON* (Peter Stossel) returns for his 6th season as Captain of The Christmas Schooner. Most recently, he appeared in the Midwest Premiere of Broadway in Chicago’s I Love Lucy Live on Stage.

Some of his other Chicago credits include The Three Musketeers, The Merry Wives of Windsor and As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare), The Most Happy Fella (Ravinia Festival), By the Music of the Spheres (Goodman), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Charlotte’s Web and Mame (Drury Lane Oakbrook), Shenandoah, Aladdin, The Full Monty and For the Boys (Marriott), Meet John Doe and Miracle on 34th Street (Porchlight).

He is probably most recognizable dancing alone in Grand Central Station in AT&T’s “Flash Mob” commercial. Karl remains a proud and outspoken member of the Actors’ Equity Association, now for the last 5 years. Love always to his new wife Elizabeth!

Karl is forever grateful to the beautiful and incomparable Julie Shannon – we love you and we miss you.

SAGE HARPER (Lillie Mae, Understudy Mary Claire Daugherty) age 8, is ecstatic to be making her Mercury Theater debut.

Sage is a Chicago area native whose The Christmas Schooner connection is that her great, great grandfather was a Michigan timber man.

She lives in Winnetka with her parents and her two younger sisters. Previous musical performances include Les Misérables (Cosette), Cinderella Jr (Cinderella), Alice in Wonderland Jr (White Rabbit), and various other children’s theater productions. Sage is The Christmas Schooner

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also active in ballet (Center for Creative Dance) and vocal performance, where she enjoys both singing and writing her own original songs.

RONALD KEATON* (Oskar, Understudy Gustav) returns to the Mercury Theater for The Christmas Schooner. He has worked at many of the theatres here in the Chicago area – Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Theater, TATC, Oak Park Festival Theatre, et al. Mr. Keaton is a proudly elected representative of the Central Regional Board of Actors’ Equity Association. He is the founder and artistic director of the newly formed SoloChicago in promoting the art of solo performance and has two pieces of his own – a musical, Whispers From the Moon (co-authored with Chicago-area composer William Underwood); and a new play, Churchill, based on the life of Winston Churchill.

Ronald is a jazz/cabaret singer here in Chicago, a stage manager, and a lifelong arts advocate. Happy Holidays to all of you!

MARK KOSTEN (Young Man/Karl at age 15) is honored to return to the Mercury Theater and his Schooner family. Other credits include the title role in Alexander and the…Bad Day (Emerald City) and Peter Pan (Circle Theatre), Dean Hyde in All Shook Up, the first Chicago regional production of Rent, Drowsy Chaperone (Big Noise), Stanley Hello, Dolly!, The Student Prince (LOW). Mark recently finished his one year run as Peter in Broadway in Chicago and Emerald City’s Pinkalicious. He is currently at the Broadway Playhouse as Temperance in Cinderella. Mark would like to thank his roommates for being the best parents a boy could ask for, and his beautiful siblings for their life changing support. His performance is dedicated to the late Julie Shannon and the spirit of her music.

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LEAH MORROW (Olive, Rose, Understudy Enid) is absolutely delighted to join the cast and crew of this beautiful show.

Previous credits include 9 to 5 and The Fireside Theater, They’re Playing Our Song at Fox Valley Rep, A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Superman (with playwright John Reeger) also at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Musical of Musicals, The Musical at Noble Fool, and other plays, workshops, sketch comedy revues, and more. With gratitude to Walter and Eugene, and love to my family, my friends, and my Doug. God Bless and Merry Christmas!

ERIC PARKER* (Louie, U.S. Peter Stossel) is overjoyed to join this wonderful company for his Mercury Theater debut.

Chicagoland credits include Che in Evita and Jacey in The Music Man among a dozen roles at Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Sebastian in The Things About Men at Theatre at the Center. A longtime Equity resident at MI’s Barn Theatre, Eric lists Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Jerry in The Full Monty, Joe Gillis (opposite Kim Zimmer) in Sunset Boulevard, Cable (with Tom Wopat) in South Pacific, Albert Soady, Sr. in Escanaba in Love, and Riff-Raff in The Rocky Horror Show among his favorite credits. He has a European tour of Hair in his distant past, some MI commercials, an indie movie with Leif Garrett, and a couple episodes of Guiding Light, too. An increasingly in-demand director in MI, Eric has helmed well-received stagings of Avenue Q, Ring of Fire, West Side Story, Joseph..., and The Rocky Horror Show, among others.

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BENJAMIN PARKHILL (Karl at age 9) 12 years old, is thrilled to be working with Walter and Eugene in this great production.

Ben’s credits include The Sound of Music and Gypsy (Drury Lane Oakbrook), The King and I (Porchlight Music Theatre), Ah, Wilderness! (Athenaeum Theater) and Les Misérables (New Trier Choir Opera), along with performances with Northlight Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Winnetka, and Lake Forest Children’s Theater. He wants to thank Gray Talent Agency, his teachers, directors, and fellow actors for inspiring and encouraging his development in music and theater. Ben is very grateful to his family for supporting his acting interests and for the amazing opportunities to explore acting in the Chicago area. When he’s not acting, Ben loves tennis, rollerblading, playing baritone and piano, and running around with his friends.

DANIEL PASS (Jan, Understudy Karl at age 9) is excited to be making his debut with the Mercury Theater. Recent credits include Frankenstein (William) at the CityLit Theater, Mark Twain: Patriot, Teacher, Philosopher (Angelic Child) with the Saint Sebastian Players, A Christmas Carol (Tiny Tim) at the Citadel Theater and How Music Came to the World (Brother) at the Gorilla Tango Theater. Daniel is in 3rd grade and enjoys history, coin collecting, math, and kung fu. He would like to thank his family and friends for all their support and encouragement, and the amazing mentors and models he meets in the theater. Enjoy the show!

ISABELLE ROBERTS (Mary Claire Daugherty and Young Girl) is thrilled to set sail for the second time aboard The Christmas Schooner at Mercury Theater. Other recent credits include

Sunday in the Park with George (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Pippin (The Music Theatre Company), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fury Theater Company) and Beauty and the Beast and Les Misérables (New Trier High School).

THOMAS M. SHEA* (Rudy) returns for his fourth voyage on the Molly Doone, having appeared in last year’s hit production of Schooner here at the Mercury, and twice for Bailiwick Repertory. Tom has recently been seen in The Lisbon Traviata for Pride Films and Plays, Maria La O and Man of La Mancha (Sancho) for Chamber Opera Chicago, and in Mid-Life!

The Crisis Musical at Noble Fool and at The Little Theatre on the Square for Michael Weber and Rachel Rockwell. Tom has also been seen here at the Mercury as Officer Barrel in Urinetown, with TimeLine in their Jeff-winning production of Fiorello!, at Drury Lane Oakbrook in How to Succeed…, and extensively with City Lit Theatre in Chicago and Light Opera Works in Evanston, where, in addition to performing in 18 productions, he has also lectured for their “Balcony Talks” series. Tom is also the author of a book, Broadway’s Most Wanted, which you can find on the Internet any old time, or, hey, just buy a copy directly from him. Tom would like to dedicate this production to the memory of his dear friend and colleague Julie Shannon.

JAMES WILSON SHERMAN* (Gustav Stossel) is delighted to again be back in the skin of Gus for this 2012 Mercury Theater production of The Christmas Schooner, a role he played for five seasons with Bailiwick Repertory and for which he received a Jeff nomination. Other credits include Guys and Dolls, Crazy for You and Phantom with TATC; Miracle on 34th Street, Phantom, Secret Garden, Meet John Doe and the Jeff award The Christmas Schooner

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winning Ragtime with Porchlight Music Theatre. He also appeared as Cardinal Law in Bailiwick’s Sin, A Cardinal Deposed for which he received a non-equity Jeff Award, which also won Boston’s IRNE Award for best visiting production. Jim has appeared with numerous productions with the Stages Festival and as a regular company member appeared in more than 35 productions with Theatre II and Prairie Dog Theater Company.

He thanks Walter and Eugene for bringing this lovely holiday show back to Chicago audiences and his wife, Barbara, for her loving patience and support over the last 57 years.

He dedicates his performance to the memory of the Schooner composer, Julie Shannon.

TRAVIS TAYLOR* (Steve) is honored to be a part of this production of The Christmas Schooner. Travis is originally from Coppell, Texas and is excited for another snowy Chicago Christmas! Chicago credits include: Sunday in the Park with George and Beauty and the Beast (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Sweeney Todd, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Sugar (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Pirates of Penzance (Marriott Theatre); Camelot, The Secret Garden, and Brigadoon (Light Opera Works); and Into the Woods (Porchlight Music Theatre). Regional credits include work with: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, and The Little Theatre on the Square. Travis received a BFA in musical theatre from the Theatre Conservatory of Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He would like to thank the artistic team for giving him the chance to do this production, and his wonderful and supportive friends and family!

Phillostrate, and Fairy 3 in Oregon Adventure Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Some of his favorite productions include playing the title roles in Pippin, Sweeney Todd, and john and jen. Other regional theatre credits include, A Christmas Carol, Dracula, Holy Matrimony (Actors Theatre of Louisville); Richard III, Guys on Ice, and End Days (Riverside Theatre); Woody Guthrie’s American Song and The Bees Knees (Iowa Theatre Artists Company); and The Balladeer in Assassins (The Green Room Theatre) He’d like to thank his parents for always believing him, Walter Stearns for letting him do this beautiful show again this Christmas, and every person that’s ever dropped a dollar in his guitar case.

L WALTER STEARNS (Director) is delighted to bring this holiday experience to Chicago, where it began and belongs. As the former artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre, Walter has produced 40 musicals and nurtured the creative talents of hundreds of artists. In his new role as Executive Director of the Mercury Theater, Stearns is a champion for Chicago artists and productions. Walter has received the Jeff Award, After Dark Awards, the first Guy Adkins award for his contributions to the art of musical theatre and the Franny Award as a distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. He was recently honored with the Larry Sloan Advocate Award for his support of Season of Concern.

EUGENE DIZON (Musical Director) is excited to work on The Christmas Schooner again with this amazing cast and crew. During his 14 year tenure at Porchlight Music Theatre, he received 6 Jeff Awards (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Amadeus, Company, Into the Woods, and Merrily We Roll Along), 13 RYAN WESTWOOD (Hans, Jeff nominations as well as 4 After Dark Understudy Steve and Awards (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, A New Oskar) This is Ryan’s Brain, and Merrily). He has been an Artistic second go at The Associate at Porchlight since 1999. Other Christmas Schooner with favorite theater experiences include Pacific Mercury Theater and he’s Overtures, Nine, and Candide (Porchlight), thrilled to be back aboard Starting Here, Starting Now (Theo Ubique) the Molly Doone. Most and Songs for a New World (Columbia recently he was seen as Bottom, Puck, College). Eugene is honored to have been 10

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inducted into the Chicago Filipino Hall of Fame. He is currently the Business Manager at Mercury Theater Chicago. Eugene and Schooner cast member Cory Goodrich produced the holiday CD recording “Season of Carols” featuring some of the brightest talent in Chicago theater today. 100% of the proceeds of the CD will go directly to Season of Concern (www.seasonofcarols.com).

Eugene would like to dedicate this year’s show to Bill Geller and the late Julie Shannon.

Oklahoma! for American Theatre Company, The Gimmick, & The Shape of a Girl for Pegasus Players. Their designs for The Philadelphia Story, Oklahoma! and The Shape of a Girl were also nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award. Rick is the Resident Designer/Technical Director for New Trier High School. Jackie is a Professor of Design at Columbia College Chicago. They are the proud parents of three wonderful daughters, Anne, Sarah, and Miranda.

BRENDA DIDIER (Choreographer) started her Chicago career with The Christmas Schooner back in 1999 at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre. It has been an honor and a joy to have collaborated with 11 Schooner casts, creative teams and the generous John Reeger and Julie Shannon. I dedicate my work on this year’s sailing of the Molly Doone to the memory of Julie Shannonmy friend, inspiration and collaborator. I will never forget her shining eyes, warm smile, kind heart and creative passion. I am a better artist and person because I was blessed to know her. All my love to Bill and to all of those who loved Julie so very much.

Her music will live on forever. Thank you to Walter and Eugene for the opportunity to work on this special show again.

JASON EPPERSON (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be lighting another show at the Mercury, where he previously lit Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, As Long as I’m Singing, Come Fly With Me, and The Men and Their Music. Other lighting credits include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (The Gift Theatre), Quake (American Theatre Company), Crumble (Dog & Pony), The Secret Garden (Porchlight), Ghost Watch (Polarity) Standing in Matoon and Kama Sutra: The Musical (commercial productions). Concert credits include The Gin Blossoms, Molly Hatchet, Foghat, Dennis Tufano (formerly of The Buckinghams), and Ron Hawking. Jason has lit many shows for numerous dance companies, and is the resident designer for The Joel Hall Dancers’ Second Company and Youth Company. He has served as an Associate Designer for architectural projects including the McCormick Freedom Museum, the Children’s Zoo at Lincoln Park Zoo, the flagship McDonald’s restaurant, and the Chicago Gold Star Memorial. Jason serves on the faculty as the Theatre Technology Program Coordinator and has recently lit Bernarda Alba, Summerfolk, and Ubu Roi, and is proud to be returning as the General Manager for the new ownership at the Mercury, where he previously served for 6 years. He would like to thank his lovely wife Abigail for her endless love and support.

RICHARD and JACQUELINE PENROD, U.S.A. (Scenic Designer) are very happy to be collaborating, with the Mercury Theater on this production. The Christmas Schooner is their favorite holiday show and they are happy to be designing it again having designed the maiden voyage many years ago. Last season included the Jeff nominated sets for Lookingglass Theatre Company’s production of The Last Act of Lilka Kadison and Remy Bumppo’s production of The Importance of Being Ernest. Other recent set designs include Tree for Victory Gardens, McMeekin Finds Out for Rout 66 Theatre Company, Around the World in 80 Days for Lookingglass Theatre Company, Around the World in 80 Days for Centerstage Baltimore and Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Philadelphia Story for Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Love’s Labour’s Lost for Milwaukee Shakespeare,

CAROL J. BLANCHARD, U.S.A. (Costume Designer) has designed for companies such as Cleveland Symphony’s Blossom Opera, Skylight Music Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park, Chautauqua Institution, First Stage Childrens’ Theatre, Karamu Theatre, and the Champlain Shakespeare Festival. Her The Christmas Schooner

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Chicago credits include Victory Gardens, Drury Lane, Silk Road Theatre Project, Porchlight Music Theatre, The Artistic Home, Apple Tree Theatre, and PTAP. She has been honored with a Joseph Jefferson Award and, for her collaboration in the Silk Road Theatre’s Golden Child, an After Dark Award.

She is a Professor Emeritus of Design at The State University of New York. You can see more of her work at cjbdesigns.org.

MIKE ROSS (Sound Design) This is Mike’s second voyage aboard the Christmas Schooner, having designed last year’s inaugural Mercury production. Mike works as an audio consultant, designer, engineer, and system technician for a variety of clients and venues around Chicago. Recent work includes designs for Paramount Theatre and Steep Theatre Company, and engineering several productions at Marriott Theater.

Mike also serves as the audio head for Million Dollar Quartet at the Apollo Theater and for a variety of corporate events for the MillerCoors company around the country.

Mike holds a BFA in Sound Design from DePaul University. For more information visit mikerossonline.net.

RITA VREELAND, A.E.A.*(Production Stage Manager) is delighted to be returning to the Mercury for the second season of Schooner!

Recent credits include productions at Northlight Theatre in Skokie (most recently: Woody Sez, Title of Show, Black Pearl Sings, and Snapshots) and Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana (most recently: Little Shop of Horrors and Jesus Christ Superstar).

Elsewhere, her stage management credits include the world premiere of A Twist of Water with Route 66 Theatre Company, El Nogalar at the Goodman, and We Are Proud to Present as well as many other productions for Victory Gardens Theatre. Rita was the

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resident set designer at Harold Washington College from 2001-2012 and is a member of the Route 66 Theatre Company in Chicago, and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity. All my love to my amazing fiancé, Tom. ANDREW GLASENHARDT* (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back with The Mercury Theater. His most recent production as an ASM was Freud’s Last Session. Andrew Glasenhardt would like to thank Walter and Jason for the opportunity to work on The Christmas Schooner production team.

He wishes everyone Happy Holidays and a bright New Year!

NOREEN HERON & ASSOCIATES (Press Representative) is a full service PR, Marketing, & Advertising agency. Previous clients include the National Tours of The Singalong Wizard of Oz and the current National Tour of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, as well as numerous concert engagements at arena theaters representing such artists as Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Wynonna Judd, Louis CK, Martina McBride, The Beach Boys, Linda Eder, Michael Feinstein, Jewel, Andre Rieu, and Linda Ronstadt. Clients have also included Sesame Street Live, the 2004/2008 Olympic Superstars, the 2011 Champions Challenge (McEnroe, Bjorg, Courier, Agassi), Barney Live!, the Highland Games, and the Harlem Globetrotters. Additionally, they represent large regional theaters including Drury Lane, Marriott Theater and Theatre at the Center as well as Chicago Dramatists, and the commercial engagements of The Game Show, Show (late night) at the Mercury Theater, Hershey Felder in Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein and the upcoming Midwest Premiere of Clutter at Victory Gardens. Other corporate clients have included Hyatt Hotels, Massage Envy, and Smirnoff.